RM3

Thanks for this. The battery light (red) does come on after ignition switched on and goes out once engine starts. So, I hope that aspect of my car is all okay.

Thanks all. I drove the car for a road trip to the beach yester, with air con going, and all was okay. I've found a friend w a mains charger, and I will try that in the next few days. I hope it will still be useful to do that after whatever charge recovery from driving. I guess it won't hurt, in any event. The battery is a few years old -- can't remember exactly when it was replaced. Old enough to not be new; young enough to be disappointed if it conked out.

So, the thing about recharging the battery by either letting the engine run with the car stationary or running her up and down the motorway ...... the RAC guy said this was something like trying to fill a bottle with a firehose. Some water will go in, but it's too vigorous. The advantage of a mains charger is that it is a slower, steadier trickle of charge and will recharge the battery as fully as it's willing to be. Please don't criticize the metaphor, I'm paraphrasing and going for gist rather than one-to-one detail with it. I don't have enough background to evaluate the merits and demerits of these two charging methods. It wasn't about the alternator (which is fine), it was about battery state and health (and ability to re-take charge) after the car sat undriven for three months. I've taken her for a long drive this evening. She starts fine, she runs fine. I put music on but not the a/c. If I can find a friend w a charger, I'll give it a go. Else I might just invest in my own. Cheaper than a whole new battery. Thanks for reading and considering, appreciated.

Thanks, the sprirt is appreciated. And thanks for words about evaluating advice. ✌🏻

Hey, it's really disheartening to read dismissive, snotty posts. Change your tone or don't contribute further here, please.

Hello lovely people Does anybody have a mains car battery charger and the ability to help me out at some point in the next several days? I've been away for a while and the car battery went flat. RAC have come out and put enough charge in to get the car starting. I'll give her a drive this afternoon. The RAC man said this will help but not fully recharge the battery. He said a slow trickle over 12-18 hours rather than a blast from the alternator is necessary. I can go buy a charger and extension cord, but as I'll (hopefully!) only need this equipment as a one-off, I thought I'd ask here first. I'm more or less located in the middle of Cardiff. Thanks very much, appreciated!